Marking Scheme for S.3 Common Test (Term 1)

Section 1 : Comprehension

Passage A (12 marks)

A)Suggested answers :

  1. The internet system/It was established in the U.S./at the U.S. Department of Defence in the 1960s.
  2. They can send e-mails/e-mail messages, chat, ,play games,read news and search for information when they get on line.
  3. The US Department of defence set up its own network system/It was because the computer networks at that time were very unreliable./if one computer in the network broke down or was shut down, then the whole network crashed.
  4. They were encouraged to get on-line after (the) 1990s since PCs became cheaper and easier to use and companies had also developed software that made surfing the Internet more convenient.
  5. The re-routing system was so important because if part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part.
  6. Student’s reasonable answer

e.g. ... because millions of people log on every day

e.g. ... because it has changed the way that people communicate.

B)Mark Allocation :

  1. 2 marks each correct answer
  2. Incomplete sentence given --> deduct 1 mark
  3. Other grammatical mistakes : deduct 0.5 mark @
  4. Max. mark deducted for grammatical errors is 1
  5. Wrong answer scores NO mark.
  6. Questions 1 & 4 : 1 mark for each component of the correct answer
  7. Question 2 : 4 are expected out of the five

Each 2 score 1 mark

Passage B (13 marks)

A)1 mark @

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
A /  /  / 
B /  /  / 
C /  / 
D

B)1 mark @

Complete sentences are required as shown in the examples.

0.5 mark is the maximum mark to be deducted for grammtical mistakes.

Wrong answer scores no mark.

2. Ruth slipped on the wet grass.

3. Ruth’s cries attracted a crocodile.

4. Blue barked.

5. Blue fought the crocodile.

6. Blue ran back to the house and alerted Ruth’s daughter and son-in-law.

Section II Vocabulary (20 marks)

  1. 2 marks each
  2. No mark for right word but in the wrong form
  3. Each word can be used ONCE only.

1. dome / 2. mischievous / 3.energetically/
aggressively/ marvellously /
  1. aggressive/
marvellous / 5. refused
6. relieved / 7. tease / 8. sighed / 9. alarm / 10. impressed

Section III Cloze (15 marks)

  1. 1 mark @
  2. No mark given if there is any mistake in the answer

1. who / 2. after / 3. save / 4. lorry / 5. driver
6. are / 7. left / 8. sent/taken /
  1. Examination/
Inspection/
investigation / 10. into
11. fast / 12. limit / 13. suffered / 14. next / 15. accident/
case

Section IV Sentence Transformation (17 marks)

A : (4 mark)

1. No marks given if the target structure was not used/can’t be used correctly.

2. 0.5 mark deducted for each minor grammatical mistake

  1. It is/It’s necessary for Sarah to study her notes.
  2. It is/It’s difficult for me to read your handwriting.
  3. It is/It’s dangerous for John to download programs from the internet.
  4. It is/It’s impossible for us to finish the computer project without any help.

B: (5 marks)

1. Wrong adjective used --> no mark

2. 0.5 mark deducted for each minor grammatical mistake

  1. The yellow suitcase is not big enough to hold all my clothes.
  2. Jimmy is not old enough to get a job.
  3. I am not tall enough to play for the school basketball team.
  4. Tammy is not fit enough to win the race.
  5. Mr. Lau is not rich enough to afford a holiday in Japan.

C: (4 marks)

  1. No marks given if the target structure was not used/can’t be used correctly.
  2. 0.5 mark deducted for each minor grammatical mistake

2. Discovering the buried treasure, the pirate shouted with delight.

  1. Expecting her husband to call, Mrs. Lam waited by the phone.
  2. Drinking the sour lemonade, Betty made a funny face.
  3. Nodding his head, James told me I was right.

D: (4 marks)

  1. No marks given if the target structure was not/ can’t be used properly.
  2. 0.5 mark deducted for each minor grammatical mistake

2. Made out of stone and wood, the castle was dark.

  1. Insulted by what he said, Anne started to cry.
  2. Exhausted from the party, the children went to bed early.
  3. Disgusted by the bad food, they complained to the waiter.

Section V Filling in Blanks (8 marks)

  1. 1 mark each
  2. No mark given for any mistake made

1. more friendly/friendlier / 2. more greedily
3. more noisily / 4. more slowly/slower
5. the most quickly/the quickest / 6. more intelligently
7. more obediently / 8. the longest

Section VI Proof reading (15 marks)

  1. 1 mark each
  2. Both marking of the mistake in the passage and answers put in the spaces must be correct if 1 mark is to be awarded.

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